All-Star Game – North Platte Post Archive

MLB’s Manfred Announces 2018 All-Star Game will be in DC

Posted on April 6, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nationals Park will host baseball’s 2018 All-Star Game, the fourth consecutive year that event will be in an NL city.

New Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement Monday before attending the Washington Nationals’ opener against the New York Mets.

Speaking at a news conference at Nationals Park, which opened in 2008, Manfred called the awarding of the 2018 game an “opportunity to showcase this terrific facility.”

Cincinnati will hold the All-Star game this year, followed by San Diego in 2016, then Miami in 2017.

When Miami’s turn was announced in February, MLB said leagues will continue to alternate who bats last, no matter what city is host. So the AL will bat last in the 2016 game at San Diego and in the 2018 game at Washington.

Westbrook has 41, West Edges East in NBA All-Star Game

Posted on February 15, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — Russell Westbrook scored 41 points, one shy of the NBA All-Star Game record, and the Western Conference beat the East 163-158 on Sunday night.

The Oklahoma City speedster had a record 27 points by halftime and closed out the scoring with two free throws, falling one point shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s 42 points in the 1962 game.

James Harden added 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the West, which built a 20-point lead in the first half and then pulled away after it was tied at 148 with a little more than 4 minutes remaining.

LeBron James finished with 30 points but couldn’t lead the East to the victory in his favorite NBA arena.

Westbrook was selected MVP of the All-Star Game after leading the West.

Oklahoma City’s flashy guard set a record with 27 first-half points. And beyond his array of high-flying dunks, drives and 3-pointers, Westbrook celebrated almost every one of his buckets with some kind of celebration, strutting back down the floor, raising his arms or pointing to the crowd.

He’s a showman and Westbrook delivered a Broadway-worthy performance. He just missed matching the scoring mark set by Chamberlain in 1962.

Westbrook’s biggest basket came with 2:22 left when he drained a 3-pointer to give the West a 158-149 lead. He made the most of his 25 minutes on the floor, attempting 28 shots.

Curry Wins 3-Point Contest, LaVine Takes Dunk Competition

Posted on February 14, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Curry bested Golden State Warriors teammate Klay Thompson and six others to win his first 3-point contest, and Minnesota’s Zach Lavine put on a spectacular aerial display to take home the dunk competition during All-Star Saturday night.

Curry scored 27 points in the final round. He connected on 13 consecutive shots until missing his final attempt, bringing fans and celebrities roaring to their feet after every swish at Brookyln’s Barclays Center.

Thompson, who had an opening-round best of 24, scored only 14 points in the final round. Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving finished second with 17 points in the three-man final.

LaVine, the 19-year-old Timberwolves rookie, scored a perfect 100 in the opening round highlighted by a threw-the-legs, one-handed reverse slam on his first attempt. He had a final round of 94 to overtake Orlando’s Victor Oladipo, who struggled to convert his first attempt and finished with a 72 in the championship round.

Wiggins leads World Team past US in Rising Stars Challenge

Posted on February 14, 2015February 14, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — Andrew Wiggins scored 22 points, Rudy Gobert added 18 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots, and the World team beat the U.S. 121-112 on Friday night in the Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star weekend.

Wiggins, the No. 1 pick from Canada who plays for Minnesota, was chosen as the game’s MVP.

Brooklyn’s Bojan Bogdanovic of Croatia, playing on his home court, and Chicago’s Nikola Mirotic from Montenegro each added 16 points for the World.

Orlando’s Victor Oladipo and Zach LaVine of Minnesota each scored 22 points for the U.S. team in the game between rookies and second-year players.

Mo’ne Davis Outshines Kevin Hart at Celebrity All-Star Game

Posted on February 14, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — Little League phenom Mo’ne Davis was pretty impressive on the basketball court, too.

Playing in the All-Star Celebrity Game against opponents more than twice her age, Davis momentarily silenced trash-talking “Wedding Ringer” star Kevin Hart, driving past him for an easy layup Friday night.

The 13-year-old blew past Hart, the game’s MVP for the fourth time, with a spectacular spin move. After the basket, Hart — who like Davis is from Philadelphia — said, “No excuses” as he tried to score on the other end.

Madison Sqaure Garden was abuzz with stars from the NBA, WNBA and Hollywood two nights before the NBA All-Star Game is played Sunday. But much of the attention was on the teenager, who got one of the loudest ovations from the crowd when she was introduced before the game.

NL and AL will Bat Last in All-Star Game in Alternate Years

Posted on February 14, 2015

MIAMI (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says the National League and American League will bat last in alternating years in the All-Star Game, regardless of where it’s played.

Manfred disclosed the plan Friday when Miami was awarded the 2017 All-Star Game. The game will be played in an NL city three years in a row for the first time, beginning this summer in Cincinnati.

The American League will be the home team, wear white uniforms and bat last in 2016 in San Diego, Manfred said.

Manfred says: “We will alternate years in terms of who bats last. We will be making that change going forward.”

It’s Official, All-Star Game to be Played in Miami in 2017

Posted on February 13, 2015

MIAMI (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has made it official — the Miami Marlins will host the 2017 All-Star Game.

Manfred made the announcement Friday at a news conference at Marlins Park. Among those attending were Florida Gov. Rick Scott, the Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Fernandez, and several former players, including Gary Sheffield and Mike Lowell.

The event included a color guard and performance of the national anthem and had a celebratory tone because it was a long time coming.

The Marlins started play in 1993 and two years later were awarded the 2000 All-Star Game at Pro Player Stadium. After founding owner Wayne Huizenga dismantled the roster of the team’s 1997 World Series champions, Major League Baseball took away the game in 1998 and awarded it to Atlanta.

AP Source: Miami Marlins Will Host 2017 All-Star Game

Posted on February 11, 2015

MIAMI (AP) — A person familiar with the decision says the Miami Marlins have been awarded the 2017 All-Star Game, and an announcement by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is planned for this week at the team’s ballpark.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the decision, first reported by The Miami Herald, had not been announced.

Miami will host the game for the first time. The Marlins were awarded the 2000 game at Pro Player Stadium and then stripped of the honor in 1998 because of uncertainty about the franchise’s future.

The Marlins moved into their new ballpark in 2012.

The All-Star Game will be played in Cincinnati this year and in San Diego in 2016, meaning a National League team will host the game in three consecutive seasons.

Atlanta’s Korver Named to All-Star Team after Wade Drops Out

Posted on February 10, 2015

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks will have four players in Sunday’s NBA All-Star game after Kyle Korver was selected to replace Miami’s Dwyane Wade.

Commissioner Adam Silver selected Korver to the Eastern Conference team Tuesday after Wade pulled out because of a hamstring injury. The East-leading Hawks (43-10) already had Paul Millsap, Al Horford and Jeff Teague as reserves.

Korver is on pace to be the first player in NBA history to make more than 50 percent of his field goals and 3-point attempts, and better than 90 percent of his free throws. He is averaging 12.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.

Korver, who turns 34 next month, is the fourth-oldest player to make his first All-Star appearance, behind Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, Sam Cassell and Anthony Mason.

All-Star Players to Compete in NBA’s First Fashion Show

Posted on February 10, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — All-Stars James Harden, Klay Thompson and DeMarcus Cousins are among the players to compete in the NBA’s first fashion show.

Produced by LeBron James’ Springhill Production Company, the one-hour “NBA All-Star All-Style” will be taped Friday night inside New York’s Hammerstein Theater and air Saturday at 6:30 p.m. EST on TNT.

It will have three rounds: dressing for the boardroom, a night out and attire worn to the game. The competition will start with eight players, with four advancing to the second round and the top two competing in the finals.

Presented by Samsung Galaxy, the show will feature models and entertainers joining the players. TNT studio analysts Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith and WNBA star Elena Delle Donne are on the judging panel.